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European Medicines Agency (EMA) moving to Amsterdam

Yesterday, the European Council chose Amsterdam for EMA’s new headquarters. About 900 staff members will be relocated from London for the move.

21 November 2017

Amsterdam chosen for EMA's new headquarters

EMA officially announced that they will be making the move to Amsterdam by 30 March 2019. The organisation is responsible for the scientific supervision, evaluation and safety monitoring of medicines in the European Union. The relocation is a direct consequence of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

“We welcome today’s decision on the new location of EMA,” said Guido Rasi, EMA’s executive director. “Now that we finally know where our journey is taking us, we can take concrete actions for a successful move.”

Amsterdam an obvious choice

The choice was made following a secret ballot involving the 27 EU Member States. Out of the 19 cities that put bids forward, Amsterdam came out on top. Given the city’s top-notch connectivity, it was the obvious choice:

“Amsterdam ticks many of our boxes,” continued Rasi. “It offers excellent connectivity and a building that can be shaped according to our needs. I am very grateful that the Member States took into account our requirements for business continuity and gave priority to the protection of public and animal health.”

On top of this, Amsterdam was among the employees’ top picks for the move. “Our internal surveys have shown that a large majority of EMA staff would be willing to move with the Agency to Amsterdam,” said Rasi. This is unsurprising, as the city’s work-life balance, cultural life and diverse international community make it a great place to live.

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